I’ve been reading about Reactive Attachment Disorder. (Sarah Grace tipped me off. Thanks, Sarah!) From what I’ve gathered so far, I would venture to say that it explains the behavior of about 2/3 of our kids at the church plant. It also fits in with the fact that so many of them have been bounced from caregiver to caregiver, since infancy, and have been traumatized by trusted caregivers in the past (and maybe present).
Problem: There are NO full-time counselors in this town. ONE man comes to the school once each MONTH to counsel as many kids as he can fit into that one measly day.
The good news is that R.A.D. can be helped, to some extent, by untrained adults who simply care consistently about these kids, and take time to listen and be patient and understand and love on them regularly. But. . .
Problem 2: Some of them have behavioral problems so severe that we can’t allow them to hang around with other kids; or their current caregiver is so fed up with the behavior problems that they’re basically locked away in the home indefinitely.
I’m becoming more and more tempted to get an MA in counseling. But I’m reeeeeeeally not sure about that. The only one that looks like it could provide the training we need, without going into a full-blown clinical psychology track, is a Human Services Counseling MA at Regent. But that seems so suspiciously tangential.
The other option is to look at what’s available in the nearest city, and see if we can either tap into it, or make enough noise to get the government to send some of it our way.
Problem 3: R.A.D. can only be fully treated in the context of the family. The parents, or other caregivers, are the ones responsible for causing it in the first place. And they are usually repeating the neglect and trauma they received from THEIR parents. So until both parent and child are able to face the past and see the need for change, nothing permanent happens. And the child will probably grow up to do the same to their own children. So here’s the problem– We have yet to even meet most of the parents of the kids we know. Many are unemployed, or addicted, or chronically apathetic. It’s hard for me to imagine any of them jumping up to drive the family down to group therapy, if it’s available. How would we even suggest it? We’re not psychologists or educators. We’re not even trained counselors.
I’m probably over-thinking this. But it seems important right now.
P.S. Aaron’s hospital log has been updated by his dad, Ken.
It is sad that the families are so wrecked in Westwood. But the real issue is that the hearts of the parents need transformation that only the Gospel of Jesus can produce. That is what is happening in the Kakira church in Uganda. The parents are getting saved, and then starting to love and care for their children. Keep up the good work. And keep sharing Jesus. “In due season you shall reap, if you do not grow weary.”
Praying, praying, praying. . .and remember that when you DO grow weary, God’s got your back. 🙂
Becky…I know this is sort of late notice, and my mom said you are without a car….???? Ben and I will be in Sacramento this weekend for him to take his test for the Fire Department. Do you know how far Sacramento is from you??
It’s about three hours to Elk Grove, which is on the south side of Sac. And I’m hard at work on the car situation, as I type, but the soonest I would have anything is next week. Do you think we’ll be able to see you? I hope we do!
I’m glad you found the information useful, and I hope that it will help in some way. I will keep praying for you and all your “kids” up there.
(On a side note, sorry I haven’t been around, for some reason, your site just now updated in my bloglines…who knows.)